Foldable chair

ABSTRACT

A foldable chair includes a chair seat, a foldable frame having two stand frames substantially aligned parallelly and spacedly with each other, wherein each of said two stand frames includes a first crossed leg and a second crossed leg; and two stand stoppers mounted to said two stand frames respectively, wherein each of said two stand stoppers connects said first crossed leg with said second crossed leg at a pivot point, so that said first crossed leg rotates with respect to said second crossed leg between a folded condition and an unfolded condition, wherein said chair seat is extended between said two stand frames to define a sitting surface for a user to sit on when said foldable chair is in said unfolded condition.

BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to a foldable chair, and more particularlyto a foldable chair comprising a fabric made chair seat and a foldableframe adapted for folding and unfolding the chair seat, wherein thefoldable chair provides a rigid and strong support while it is easy forhand carrying, storage and usage.

2. Description of Related Arts

Foldable chairs are easy to be carried and used both indoor and outdoor.A typical foldable chair comprises a foldable frame and a seat memberfoldably supported by the foldable frame in such a manner that the chairis capable of folding between a folded condition and an unfoldedcondition, wherein in the unfolded condition, the foldable frame standson a ground surface and supports the seat member in a substantiallyhorizontal position for a user to set, and that in the folded condition,the foldable frame can be pivotally and collapsibly folded to form acompact structure for ease of carry and storage.

Accordingly, the legs of the frame of the foldable chair are connectedtogether by joint members such as rivets, screws or the like, when auser sits on the seat member, the downward force will be directlyapplied on the joint members. The repeat movement between the foldedcondition and the unfolded condition of the foldable chair may make thejoint members become loosen. In other words, a conventional foldablechair often fails to provide a stable support which is prone to flipover when a heavy user sits on the seat and is easy to be damaged when arelatively heavy downward force is applied thereon. Therefore, aportable and flexible foldable chair which has a light weight for handcarrying or storing in a trunk of a vehicle as well as enhancedstructural strength and stability for use is highly desired.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The main object of the present invention is to provide a foldable chaircomprising a chair seat and a foldable frame adapted for folding andunfolding the chair seat wherein the foldable chair provides a rigid andstrong support while it is easy for hand carrying, storage and usage.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a foldable chairadapted to fold between a folded condition and an unfolded condition,wherein in the folded condition, the chair seat and the foldable frameare folded into a compact structure for ease of carrying and storage,and that in the unfolded condition, the foldable frame unfolds the chairseat for a user to sit thereon comfortably.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a foldable chair,wherein the foldable frame comprises two stand frames prarallelly andspacedly aligned with each other, wherein the fabric made chair seat ismounted to the two stand frames in such a manner that the chair seat canbe extended therebetween when the foldable chair is in the unfoldedcondition to define a sitting platform.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a foldable chair,wherein the first crossed leg is connected to the second crossed leg bya stand stopper, wherein the stand stopper enhances the stability of thestand frame and also facilitate the movement of the first crossed legwith respect to the second crossed leg.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a foldable chair,wherein the foldable frame further comprises a first support comprisingtwo first supporting arms crossedly connected at a first pivot point,and a second support comprising two second supporting arms crossedlyconnected at a second pivot point, wherein the two first supporting armsand the two second supporting arms are connected by support stoppers,and thus a distance between the two stand frames is maintained and thestability of the foldable chair is attained, especially when the usersits on the chair seat.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a foldable chairwhich has a simple and strong structure while manufacturing in lowercost to enable it being affordable to all consumers.

Additional advantages and features of the invention will become apparentfrom the description which follows, and may be realized by means of theinstrumentalities and combinations particular point out in the appendedclaims.

According to the present invention, the foregoing and other objects andadvantages are attained by a foldable chair, comprising:

a chair seat;

a foldable frame comprising two stand frames substantially alignedparallelly and spacedly with each other, wherein each of said two standframes comprises a first crossed leg and a second crossed leg; and

two stand stoppers mounted to said two stand frames respectively,wherein each of said two stand stoppers connects said first crossed legwith said second crossed leg at a pivot point, so that said firstcrossed leg rotates with respect to said second crossed leg between afolded condition and an unfolded condition, wherein said chair seat isextended between said two stand frames to define a sitting surface for auser to sit on when said foldable chair is in said unfolded condition.

Still further objects and advantages will become apparent from aconsideration of the ensuing description and drawings.

These and other objectives, features, and advantages of the presentinvention will become apparent from the following detailed description,the accompanying drawings, and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a foldable chair in an unfoldedcondition according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the foldable chair according to the abovepreferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a front view illustrating the stand stopper of the foldablechair according to the above preferred embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 4 is a rear view illustrating the stand stopper of the foldablechair according to the above preferred embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view illustrating the stand stopper of thefoldable chair according to the above preferred embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating the stand stopper of thefoldable chair according to the above preferred embodiment of thepresent invention

FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating a first support is beingmounted to the foldable frame of the foldable chair according to theabove preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating a second support is beingmounted to the foldable frame of the foldable chair according to theabove preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view illustrating the foldable chair in thefolded condition according to the above preferred embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating a foldable chair according toa second preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIG. 1 to FIG. 9 of the drawings, a foldable chair which isadapted to be folded between a folded condition and an unfoldedcondition according to a preferred embodiment of the present inventionis illustrated, wherein the foldable chair comprises a chair seat 10 anda foldable frame 20, wherein in the folded condition, the chair seat 10and the foldable frame 20 are folded into a compact structure while thechair seat 10 is overlappedly aligned with the folded foldable frame forease of carrying and storage, wherein in the unfolded condition, thefoldable frame 20 is unfolded to extend the chair seat 10 to define asitting surface for a user to sit thereon comfortably.

Accordingly, the chair seat 10 is made of soft material, and thus thechair seat can be a fabric seat, weave seat, or canvas seat so that theuser can comfortably sits thereon. In other words, the chair seat 10 ismade of soft and flexible material so as to provide a lighter weightstructure and convenient seating effect for the user.

Referring to FIG. 2 of the drawing, the foldable frame 20 comprises twostand frames 21 parallelly and spacedly aligned with each other, whereinthe chair seat 10 is mounted to the two stand frames 21 in such a mannerthat the chair seat 10 is extended between the two stand frames 21 whenthe foldable chair is in the unfolded condition. Also, the two standframes 21 are capable of unfolding the chair seat 10 in the unfoldedcondition.

Each of the stand frames 21 comprises a first crossed leg 211 and asecond crossed leg 212, wherein the foldable chair comprises two standstoppers 30 mounted with said two stand frames 21. Accordingly, each ofthe two stand stoppers 30 connects the first crossed leg 211 with thesecond crossed leg 212 at a pivot point 213, so that the first crossedleg 211 and the second crossed leg 212 are capable of rotating withrespect to each other about the pivot point 213. Accordingly, the firstcrossed leg 211 can be overlappedly and parallelly aligned with thesecond crossed leg 212 in the folded condition, and that when the firstcrossed leg 211 rotates with respect to the second crossed leg 212 inthe unfolded condition, the first crossed leg 211 and the second crossedleg 212 can be unfolded to a cross-X structure adapted for standing on aground surface for supporting the user sitting on the chair seat 10.

Referring to FIG. 3 to FIG. 6 of the drawings, each of the two standstoppers 30 comprises a stopper body 31 having a receiving hole 32,wherein the stopper body 31 is mounted with one of the first crossed leg211 and the second crossed leg 212. As an example, the stopper body 31is mounted to the second crossed leg 212 at the pivot point 213, thefirst crossed leg 211 passes through the receiving hole 32 so that thefirst crossed leg 211 and the second crossed leg 212 are crossedlyaligned with each other.

Accordingly, the stopper body 31 is mounted to the second crossed leg212 by a first joint member 33, and the stopper body 31 is mounted tothe first crossed leg 211 by a second joint member 34, so that the firstcrossed leg 211 is adapted to rotate with respect to the second crossedleg 212 about the stopper 30. In other words, the first joint member 33penetrates the second crossed leg 212 and the stopper body 31 formounting the stand stopper 30 with the second crossed leg 212, thesecond joint member 34 penetrates a portion of the first crossed leg 211in the receiving hole 32 and the stopper body 31 for connecting thestand stopper 30 with the first crossed leg 211, as shown in FIG. 5. Thefirst joint member 33 and the second joint member 34 can be rivets,screws or the like.

According to the prior art, the first crossed leg 211 and the secondcrossed leg 212 are connected by just a rivet or a screw, but in thispreferred embodiment, with the help of the stand stopper 30, when theusers sits on the chair seat 10, the downward force applied on the twostand frames 21 will be distributed by the first joint member 33 and thesecond joint member 34. In other words, the strength of the foldablechair is enhanced by the connection between the stand stopper 30 withthe first crossed leg 211 and the second crossed leg 212.

It is worth mentioning that the length of the first crossed leg 211 canbe different from the second crossed leg 212. For example, according tothe preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first crossed leg211 is longer than the second crossed leg 212, wherein when the foldablechair is in the unfolded condition, the first crossed leg 211 provides abackrest for the user sitting on the chair seat 10 and the secondcrossed leg 212 provides a seat support for the user.

Accordingly, the first crossed leg 211 and the second crossed leg 212are both preferably constructed in arc shape so as to define a desiredangle when the foldable frame 20 is in the unfolded condition. The pivotpoint 213 divides the first crossed leg 211 and the second crossed leg212 into two half portions: an upper portion and a lower portion. Whenthe foldable chair is in the unfolded condition, the upper portion ofthe first crossed leg 211 and the corresponding upper portion of thesecond crossed leg 212 define the unfolding angle of the foldable frame20 in such a manner that the chair seat 10 is resting on the upperportion 2111 of the first crossed leg 211 and the upper portions 2121 ofthe second crossed leg 212 at a position above the stand stopper 30.

The chair seat 10 comprises a seat member 11 having a first end 111 anda second end 112, wherein the first end 111 of the seat member 11 ismounted to the upper portion of the first crossed leg 211 and the secondend 112 of the seat member 11 is mounted to the upper portion of thesecond crossed leg 212 in such a manner that the seat member 11 isextended between the two stand frames 21.

It is worth mentioning that the chair seat 10 comprises a plurality offasteners 12 provided on the edge of the seat member 11 of the chairseat for grasping the upper portions of the first crossed leg 211 andthe second crossed leg 212 so that a downward force applied on the chairseat is distributed by the first crossed leg 211 and the second crossedleg 212.

Referring to FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 of the drawings, the foldable frame 20further comprises a first support 22 and a second support 23 mounted tothe two stand frames 21 so as to enhance the stability of the foldableframe 20 in the unfolded condition, wherein the first support 22comprises two first support arms 221 connected with each other at afirst crossed point 223. Referring to FIG. 7 of the drawing, the twofirst support arms 221 are connected to the two stand frames 21 in sucha manner that the lower end of each of the first support arms 221 ispivotally mounted to the lower portion of the first crossed leg 211 andthe upper end of each of the first support arms 221 is mounted to theupper portion of the second crossed leg 212.

Referring to FIG. 8 of the drawing, the second support 23 comprises twosecond support arms 231 connected to each other at a second crossedpoint 232. More specifically, the two second support arms 231 aremounted to the first crossed leg 211 and the second crossed leg 212 ofeach of the two stand frames 21 in such a manner that the lower end ofeach of the two second support arms 231 is pivotally mounted to thelower portion of the second crossed leg 212 and the upper end of each ofthe two second support arms 231 is mounted to the upper portion of thefirst crossed leg 211. And thus when the foldable chair is in theunfolded condition, the first support 22 and the second support 23provide supporting force to the two first crossed leg 211 and the twosecond crossed leg 212 of the two stand frames 21 so as to attain astable support to the user's weight and evenly distribute the downwardforce applied by the user sitting on the chair seat 10.

It is worth mentioning that two first support arms 221 of the firstsupport 22 and the two second support arms 231 of the second support 23can also be connected by two support stoppers 40 respectively. Forinstance, a support stopper 40 comprises a stopper body 41 having areceiving hole 42 is mounted to one of the two first support arms 221 bya first joint member 43, wherein the other of the two support arms 221has a portion received in the receiving hole 42 and is connected to thestopper body 41 by a second joint member 44.

It is worth mentioning that the first support 22 and the second support23 not only provide supporting force to the two stand frames 21 when thefoldable chair is in the unfolded condition, but also retain apredetermined distance between the two stand frames 21, wherein thedistance is slightly larger than the width of the user.

The foldable frame 20 may further comprises two armrest 24, wherein eachof the two stand frames 21 comprises a mounting arm 214 integrally andinclinedly extended from the upper portion of the second crossed leg 212in such a manner that the mounting arm 214 of the second crossed leg 212stands in an upright direction when the foldable chair is in theunfolded condition. Each of the armrest 24 comprises an armrest body 241which is pivotally and vertically extended from the mounting arm 214 ofthe second crossed leg 212. The armrest 24 further comprises a pivot arm242 having a first end 2421 pivotally and movably connected to thearmrest body 241 and a second end 2422 pivotally and movably connectedto the first crossed leg 211 in such a manner that the armrest body 241is capable of rotating about the first crossed leg 211. Preferably, thefirst end 2421 of the pivot arm 242 is pivotally and movably connectedto a middle portion of the armrest body 241 and the second end 2422 ofthe pivot arm 242 is pivotally and movably connected to the middleportion of the first crossed leg 211. And thus when the foldable chairis in the unfolded condition, the two armrests 24 are substantiallyextended horizontally for a user to comfortably rest his forearms andhands thereon, and when the foldable chair is in the folded condition,the two armrests 24 are substantially extended vertically to parallellyalign with the two first crossed legs 211 and the two second crossedlegs 212.

FIG. 9 illustrates the foldable chair which is adapted to move from theunfolded condition to the folded condition. Referring to FIG. 8 of thedrawings, wherein when the foldable chair is in the folded condition,wherein the second crossed leg 212 rotates about the stand stopper 30 tobe overlappedly aligned with the first crossed leg 211 to stand in asubstantial upright direction and the first support 22 is substantiallyaligned overlappedly with the second support 23. And thus the foldablechair is easy for hand carrying or storage.

Referring to FIG. 10 of the drawings, a foldable chair according to asecond preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated,wherein the foldable chair comprises a chair seat 10A and a foldableframe 20A, wherein the chair seat 10A comprises a rigid seat member 11A.In other words, the seat member can be made of wood, metal or otherrigid material.

Accordingly, the foldable frame 20A comprises two stand frames 21Asubstantially aligned paralledlly and spacedly with each other, whereineach of the stand frames 21A comprises a first crossed leg 211A and asecond crossed leg 212A connected to the first crossed leg 211A at apivot point 213A, so that the first crossed leg 211A and the secondcrossed leg 212A are capable of rotating with respect to each otherabout the pivot point 213A. Accordingly, the foldable chair comprisestwo stand stoppers 30A provided at the pivot points 213A for mountingthe first crossed leg 211A with the second crossed leg 212A of each ofthe two stand frames 21A respectively.

Each of the two stand stoppers 30A comprises a stopper body 31A having areceiving hole 32A, wherein the stopper body 31A is mounted to one ofthe first crossed leg 211A and the second crossed leg 212A. As anexample, the stopper body 31A is mounted to the second crossed leg 212Aat the pivot point 213A, wherein the first crossed leg 211A passesthrough the receiving hole 32A so that the first crossed leg 211A andthe second crossed leg 212A are crossedly aligned with each other.

One skilled in the art will understand that the embodiment of thepresent invention as shown in the drawings and described above isexemplary only and not intended to be limiting.

It will thus be seen that the objects of the present invention have beenfully and effectively accomplished. The embodiments have been shown anddescribed for the purposes of illustrating the functional and structuralprinciples of the present invention and is subject to change withoutdeparture from such principles. Therefore, this invention includes allmodifications encompassed within the spirit and scope of the followingclaims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A foldable chair, comprising: a chair seat; afoldable frame comprising two stand frames parallelly and spacedlyaligned with each other, wherein each of said two stand frames comprisesa first crossed leg and a second crossed leg; and two stand stoppersmounted to said two stand frames respectively, wherein each of said twostand stoppers connects said first crossed leg with said second crossedleg at a pivot point, so that said first crossed leg rotates withrespect to said second crossed leg between a folded condition and anunfolded condition, wherein said chair seat is extended between said twostand frames to define a sitting surface for a user to sit on when saidfoldable chair is in said unfolded condition.
 2. The foldable chair, asrecited in claim 1, wherein each of said two stand stoppers comprises astopper body having a receiving hole, wherein said stopper body ismounted to said second crossed leg, wherein said first crossed legpasses through said receiving hole.
 3. The foldable chair, as recited inclaim 1, wherein each of said two stand stoppers comprises a first jointmember and a second joint member, wherein said stand stopper body ismounted to said second crossed leg by said first joint member, and saidstopper body is mounted to said first crossed leg by said second jointmember, wherein said first crossed leg rotates with respect to saidsecond crossed leg about said stand stopper.
 4. The foldable chair, asrecited in claim 2, wherein each of said two stand stoppers comprises afirst joint member and a second joint member, wherein said stand stopperbody is mounted to said second crossed leg by said first joint member,and said stopper body is mounted to said first crossed leg by saidsecond joint member, wherein said first crossed leg rotates with respectto said second crossed leg about said stand stopper.
 5. The foldablechair, as recited in claim 4, wherein said first crossed leg and saidcrossed leg are constructed in arc shape, wherein an upper portion ofsaid first crossed leg and a corresponding upper portion of said secondcrossed leg define an unfolding angle of said foldable frame in saidunfolded condition in such a manner that said chair seat is resting onsaid upper portions of said first crossed leg and a corresponding upperportion of said second crossed leg at a position above said pivot point.6. The foldable chair, as recited in claim 1, wherein said foldableframe further comprises a first support and a second support mounted tosaid two stand frames so as to enhance said stability of said foldableframe in said unfolded condition, wherein said first support comprisestwo first support arms connected to each other at a first crossed point,wherein said second support comprises two second support arms connectedto each other at a second crossed point.
 7. The foldable chair, asrecited in claim 5, wherein said foldable frame further comprises afirst support and a second support mounted to said two stand frames soas to enhance said stability of said foldable frame in said unfoldedcondition, wherein said first support comprises two first support armsconnected to each other at a first crossed point, wherein said secondsupport comprises two second support arms connected to each other at asecond crossed point.
 8. The foldable chair, as recited in claim 6,further comprising two support stoppers mounting said two first supportarms and said two second support arms respectively.
 9. The foldablechair, as recited in claim 7, further comprising two support stoppersmounting said two first support arms and said two second support armsrespectively.
 10. The foldable chair, as recited in claim 8, whereinsaid two first support arms are connected to said two stand frames insuch a manner that a lower end of each of said two first support arms ispivotally mounted to said lower portion of said first crossed leg and anupper end of each of said two first support arms is mounted to saidupper portion of said second crossed leg, wherein said two secondsupport arms are mounted to said two stand frames in such a manner thata lower end of each of said two second support arms is pivotally mountedto said lower portion of said second crossed leg and an upper end ofeach of said two second support arms is mounted to said upper portionsof said first crossed leg.
 11. The foldable chair, as recited in claim9, wherein said two first support arms are connected to said two standframes in such a manner that a lower end of each of said two firstsupport arms is pivotally mounted to said lower portion of said firstcrossed leg and an upper end of each of said two first support arms ismounted to said upper portion of said second crossed leg, wherein saidtwo second support arms are mounted to said two stand frames in such amanner that a lower end of each of said two second support arms ispivotally mounted to said lower portion of said second crossed leg andan upper end of each of said two second support arms is mounted to saidupper portions of said first crossed leg.
 12. The foldable chair, asrecited in claim 10, wherein each of said two stand frames furthercomprises a mounting arm integrally and inclinedly extended from saidupper portion of said second crossed leg g in such a manner that saidmounting arm of said second crossed leg stands in an upright directionwhen said foldable chair is in said unfolded condition, wherein saidfoldable frame further comprises two armrest each extended between saidmounting arm of said second crossed leg and said first crossed leg. 13.The foldable chair, as recited in claim 11, wherein each of said twostand frames further comprises a mounting arm integrally and inclinedlyextended from said upper portion of said second crossed leg in such amanner that said mounting arm of said second crossed leg stands in anupright direction when said foldable chair is in said unfoldedcondition, wherein said foldable frame further comprises two armresteach extended between said mounting arm of said second crossed leg andsaid first crossed leg.
 14. The foldable chair, as recited in claim 12,wherein each said armrest comprises an armrest body which is pivotallyand vertically extended form said mounting arm of said second crossedleg, and a pivot arm having a first end pivotally and movably connectedto said armrest body and a second end pivotally and movably connected tosaid first crossed leg in such a manner that said armrest body iscapable of rotating about said first crossed leg.
 15. The foldablechair, as recited in claim 13, wherein each said armrest comprises anarmrest body which is pivotally and vertically extended form saidmounting arm of said second crossed leg, and a pivot arm having a firstend pivotally and movably connected to said armrest body and a secondend pivotally and movably connected to said first crossed leg in such amanner that said armrest body is capable of rotating about said firstcrossed leg
 16. The foldable chair, as recited in claim 14, wherein saidchair seat comprises a seat member having a first end and a second end,wherein said first end of said seat member is mounted to said upperportion of said first crossed leg and said second end of said seatmember is mounted to said upper portion of said second crossed leg. 17.The foldable chair, as recited in claim 16, wherein said chair seat ismade of soft material.
 18. The foldable chair, as recited in claim 17,wherein said chair seat comprises a plurality of fasteners provided onthe edge of said seat member of said chair seat for grasping said upperportions of said first crossed leg and said second crossed leg so thatsaid downward force applied on said chair seat is distributed by saidfirst crossed leg and said second crossed leg.
 19. The foldable chair,as recited in claim 3, wherein said chair seat comprises a rigid seatmember, wherein said seat member is supported by said two stand frames.20. The foldable chair, as recited in claim 19, further comprising tworetention arms extended between said two stand frames respectively tomaintain a distance between said two stand frames.